i really don't like exercising with others or with a trainer, actually.

i don't like feeling like there's competition if the point is not competition - if it's a race for the sake of racing, that's great, but if it's a race for the sake of exercising, i'd rather be focusing purely on myself and how i can personally improve. it's cool to be around others, like at the gym or whatever. it's kind of fun to show off. but i don't want to interact.

Saffron Harmony

Fitness Color: Saffron Seeking, Making Workouts into Play

Motivation, Approach, Focus

Saffrons prefer an easy-going and casual lifestyle and are attracted to easy access to exercise that requires minimal process or advance planning. Keeping plans to a minimum provides more opportunities to enjoy the kick they get when life hands them the unexpected. For them, serendipity provides an extra measure of enjoyment and fun. Though Saffrons appreciate being physically active, imposed routines and schedules that limit their flexibility to engage on their own terms soon become burdens that inhibit rather than encourage physical activity.

Although their outward demeanor is relaxed, inwardly Saffrons can be intense. With a challenge in front of them, they apply themselves to the task with quiet commitment. Competitive—with themselves more than others—Saffrons are engaged in setting difficult and often physically demanding goals. Physical pursuits are in fact a great balance to their intensity, providing a cleansing relief from constant inner analysis, debate, and searching.

Independent, and often perfectionists, Saffrons are drawn to activities that require a high level of performance. Boredom can be a concern for Saffrons, and they find satisfaction in physical pursuits that push them to higher fitness levels.

Saffrons maintain physical activity by finding elements of challenge, fun, freedom, and flow. They love creating a rhythm and keeping it going. Convenience is an important consideration—many Saffrons say it’s essential for making physical activity appealing. Every step they must take on the way to exercising is another opportunity to get off-track, so the fewer decision points between the idea and its execution, the better. With their intuitive natures, Saffrons can easily make the mind/body/soul connection and might be attracted to exercise with that as a component.

Environment and Interpersonal Connections

Saffrons lean toward outdoor settings for most of their cardio activities, enjoying the freedom and flexibility the outdoors provides. Although they might go to the gym for some of their cardio, many report their gym visits have a particular purpose, like lifting weights, for example. With their attraction to movement and flow, many Saffrons enjoy group fitness classes, if the music is to their liking and it’s fun!

Saffrons enjoy exercising alone—and with others, as long as the interaction is not demanding or confining. For instance, they might enjoy light banter with a running partner. It’s not unusual for Saffrons to train for a marathon with a family member or friend, but it won’t happen if there’s much to-do about dates and schedules ahead of time. Arrangements must be convenient and relaxed. Because Saffrons rarely consider themselves as part of a group, they deal better with a few like-minded people, rather than an organized gathering. For the same reason, Saffrons often choose unusual sports or activities, e.g. Ultimate Frisbee, Taiko drumming, or bouldering.

SilversFitness Color: Quick Silver, Masters of Exercise DisguiseMotivation, Approach, and Focus
Energized by new ideas and possibilities, Silvers eagerly embrace novel concepts and respond to a world of opportunity. Silvers find little that doesn’t interest them. They’re quick to see connections and build on ideas. Silvers enjoy being with people who share their enthusiasm and can contribute to their projects and activities. With so many interests, exercise for its own sake can be boring. It’s best when taken out of the context of pure exercise and wrapped in the guise of something else, such as a challenge, adventure, and exploration, or spending time with people.

Active Silvers fall into one of two categories: Make it Central or Keep it Simple. When physical activity takes on a central role, there are likely several layers of experience and achievement to disguise pure exercise. For example, training for a marathon with a group, skiing or biking with friends, walking meetings with colleagues, or competitive ballroom dancing. In each case there are multiple enticements and hooks; they will get their exercise along the way. With their Intuitive natures, Silvers can naturally make the mind/body/soul connection and might be attracted to exercise with that as a component.

For Make it Central Silvers with active friends and family, physical activity can become an operating principle in their lives. With so much of life organized around physical activity, positive momentum overpowers physical resistance. They approach their physically active lifestyle with enthusiasm and gusto, and rarely miss a day of exercise, even when it’s piled on top of an already full schedule

For Silvers who do not make exercise central in their lives, they find exercise success by keeping activities uncomplicated, unremarkable, and easy to accomplish. The Keep it Simple Silvers might even become rigid in their program, in contrast to the flexible approach they apply to the rest of their lives, convinced that if they deviate from their routine—or try to improve on it and change it—it might fall apart. For Silvers whose interests often pull them in so many directions, many report that regular exercise makes them feel more balanced and in control of their lives.

Environment and Interpersonal Connections
Convenience is a must. The more decision points Silvers must navigate, the less appealing exercise becomes. Whether they belong to a fitness center, practice yoga, Tai Chi, or run in the park, Silvers don’t want to spend too much time in transition. Their schedules are tight and time is valuable. Convenience, after all, relates to flow—moving from one activity to another with little effort—much the way Silvers connect ideas.

A stimulating environment, connecting with people around training programs—possibly taking the lead in setting up a training schedule keeps interest high. With their busy lives, many Silvers also enjoy exercising alone, finding satisfaction and balance in reflection. A walk at night, a run along the bike path, or solo time at the gym provides an opportunity to be with their thoughts and clear their busy minds.

Silver Efficients (ENTP)

Silver Efficients seek a trainer who understands how the body works and is competent at explaining it. They will have challenging questions for a trainer to respond to; their relationship is professional.
Silver Harmonies (ENFP)

Silver Harmonies seek trainers who they enjoy spending time with. Their relationship with their trainer tends to be personal.

[SIGPIC] [/SIGPIC]

Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace."
— Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar)

"Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted."
— Sylvia Plath

Motivation, Approach, and Focus
It is in the nature of Purples to orient toward a routine, become comforted by it, and take pleasure in completing their plan as envisioned. Active Purples are occupied with a constant quest for increased competency and self-improvement and believe they should be sufficiently disciplined to make a place and time for regular exercise. Purples approach exercise purposefully and always with a plan—often a loosely envisioned plan, but nevertheless, a plan.

They will research, study, consult authorities, and do whatever is needed to collect information. However, with confidence and independence as trademarks of their personality, they trust their own ability to pull together their exercise program, complete with categories such as cardio, strength, and flexibility. As Intuitves, they readily see the mind/body/soul connection and will often include exercise with that focus as a category.

Purples are attracted to variety and experiment with different approaches from time to time, but are soon drawn back to exercise they can make routine. They prefer a consistent approach to exercise. Once exercise takes on an established pattern, Purples comfortably maintain that routine. As natural planners, they’ll easily pack their gym bag to prepare for their personal needs before and after their workout. They take advantage and enjoy the amenities of a well appointed club—all part of the routine.

Friendly, outgoing, and energetic, Purples walk with confidence and speak with certainty. With their natural attraction to the outer world, Purples frequently do not give themselves enough time alone to access their more creative inner side. Purples often find exercise a perfect way to have that time alone and connect with their creative side. Many report that while engaged in repetitive cardio activities which do not require focused attention, they get into a mental zone. While on automatic pilot, their mind goes elsewhere, which often provides refreshing creative thoughts.

Environment and Interpersonal Connections

Purples prefer to control their own environment and can be surprisingly disturbed by what they perceive as out-of- place elements in their surroundings. Many report they become so distracted by such non-conducive factors in an environment that it actually interferes with their ability to enjoy and maintain an exercise program. (For example, loud music, stray dumbbells, or messy equipment.)

Purples are energized by exercising with people in the environment, and they find it pleasing to be around others doing the same thing, without necessarily interacting with them. Too much interaction requires energy and takes them out of that sought after mental zone.

Purple Efficients (ENTJ)
Purple Efficiencies employ a trainer to achieve targeted results with a minimum of wasted effort. The relationship is business-like and impersonal.

Blue Harmonies enjoy exchanging pleasantries in their personal training sessions and seek a friendly relationship with their trainer. Positive feedback from their trainer assures them of correct technique, form, and safety.

Energized by new ideas and possibilities, Silvers eagerly embrace novel concepts and respond to a world of opportunity. Silvers find little that doesn’t interest them. They’re quick to see connections and build on ideas. Silvers enjoy being with people who share their enthusiasm and can contribute to their projects and activities. With so many interests, exercise for its own sake can be boring. It’s best when taken out of the context of pure exercise and wrapped in the guise of something else, such as a challenge, adventure, and exploration, or spending time with people.

Active Silvers fall into one of two categories: Make it Central or Keep it Simple. When physical activity takes on a central role, there are likely several layers of experience and achievement to disguise pure exercise. For example, training for a marathon with a group, skiing or biking with friends, walking meetings with colleagues, or competitive ballroom dancing. In each case there are multiple enticements and hooks; they will get their exercise along the way. With their Intuitive natures, Silvers can naturally make the mind/body/soul connection and might be attracted to exercise with that as a component.

For Make it Central Silvers with active friends and family, physical activity can become an operating principle in their lives. With so much of life organized around physical activity, positive momentum overpowers physical resistance. They approach their physically active lifestyle with enthusiasm and gusto, and rarely miss a day of exercise, even when it’s piled on top of an already full schedule

For Silvers who do not make exercise central in their lives, they find exercise success by keeping activities uncomplicated, unremarkable, and easy to accomplish. The Keep it Simple Silvers might even become rigid in their program, in contrast to the flexible approach they apply to the rest of their lives, convinced that if they deviate from their routine—or try to improve on it and change it—it might fall apart. For Silvers whose interests often pull them in so many directions, many report that regular exercise makes them feel more balanced and in control of their lives.
Environment and Interpersonal Connections

Convenience is a must. The more decision points Silvers must navigate, the less appealing exercise becomes. Whether they belong to a fitness center, practice yoga, Tai Chi, or run in the park, Silvers don’t want to spend too much time in transition. Their schedules are tight and time is valuable. Convenience, after all, relates to flow—moving from one activity to another with little effort—much the way Silvers connect ideas.

A stimulating environment, connecting with people around training programs—possibly taking the lead in setting up a training schedule keeps interest high. With their busy lives, many Silvers also enjoy exercising alone, finding satisfaction and balance in reflection. A walk at night, a run along the bike path, or solo time at the gym provides an opportunity to be with their thoughts and clear their busy minds.

Silver Efficients (ENTP)
Silver Efficients seek a trainer who understands how the body works and is competent at explaining it. They will have challenging questions for a trainer to respond to; their relationship is professional.

Silver Harmonies (ENFP)
Silver Harmonies seek trainers who they enjoy spending time with. Their relationship with their trainer tends to be personal.

White Harmonies look for friendly and supportive personal trainers. They respond best to trainers who communicate their interest and caring, and at the same time are committed to helping them reach their goals.

Motivation, Approach, and Focus

Whites approach exercise as they do everything else, with planning and structure—that is, after sufficient reflection time. Reflection, in fact, is the hallmark of their personality. They don’t jump into anything head first, including fitness. Whites need time to do the research, check out facilities, and imagine scenarios—all preliminary elements undertaken to create a comprehensive plan. Whites are habitually oriented and comfortable with the familiar; once they’ve made their plan to include regular physical activity in their routine, it becomes a cherished part of their life. It doesn’t slip out easily, but is challenged when their routine is disrupted by travel, moving to another city or other such changes.

Disciplined and independent, Whites are self-organized and attracted to physical exercise they can structure at their own pace. Much thought goes into each element of a White’s exercise program—and a program it is, complete with categories for cardio, strength, and flexibility—and even classifications such as social, light, moderate, and intense. As Intuitives, they readily see the mind/body/soul connection and will often include exercise that provides for that as a category. At times they may enjoy being accountable to a fitness trainer, as long as they’ve had a role in directing the activity.

While they might consult fitness literature or schedule some sessions with a trainer, they typically develop their own exercise program based on specific results they’ve established as important and achievable. Whites think ahead and loosely envision their weekly exercise program, mentally keeping tabs, identifying times in which each part will happen. Unlike other types who are energized by spontaneous activities, Whites don’t like to be swept up in someone else’s agenda. They tend to stick with their plan.

Physical activity provides a refreshing respite, giving them an opportunity to get away from it all—from work, the phone, people, requests, and family responsibilities. It’s a time to de-stress, thing about things and be with their internal visions.

Environment and Interpersonal Connections

Whites seek comfort and familiarity in their exercise environments. Placing high value on tranquil and calm environments, Whites are easily jarred by interruptions and chaos. Whites require orderly environments for exercise, which provide the necessary calm for them to relax and receive the mental benefits of exercise as well as the physical. At a large fitness center, they are likely to find an out of the way spot to exercise, or they might join a small gym off the beaten path. Whites don’t mean to be rude, but they go to a gym to work out.

Chit chat and noise are distracting, and cell phones are a special irritant. Characteristically, Whites prefer keeping a low profile at the gym. They are turned off by “see and be seen” fitness centers. They typically don’t like to bump into people from work or other parts of their lives at the gym.

Whites approach exercise as they do everything else, with planning and structure—that is, after sufficient reflection time. Reflection, in fact, is the hallmark of their personality. They don’t jump into anything head first, including fitness. Whites need time to do the research, check out facilities, and imagine scenarios—all preliminary elements undertaken to create a comprehensive plan. Whites are habitually oriented and comfortable with the familiar; once they’ve made their plan to include regular physical activity in their routine, it becomes a cherished part of their life. It doesn’t slip out easily, but is challenged when their routine is disrupted by travel, moving to another city or other such changes.

Disciplined and independent, Whites are self-organized and attracted to physical exercise they can structure at their own pace. Much thought goes into each element of a White’s exercise program—and a program it is, complete with categories for cardio, strength, and flexibility—and even classifications such as social, light, moderate, and intense. As Intuitives, they readily see the mind/body/soul connection and will often include exercise that provides for that as a category. At times they may enjoy being accountable to a fitness trainer, as long as they’ve had a role in directing the activity.

While they might consult fitness literature or schedule some sessions with a trainer, they typically develop their own exercise program based on specific results they’ve established as important and achievable. Whites think ahead and loosely envision their weekly exercise program, mentally keeping tabs, identifying times in which each part will happen. Unlike other types who are energized by spontaneous activities, Whites don’t like to be swept up in someone else’s agenda. They tend to stick with their plan.

Physical activity provides a refreshing respite, giving them an opportunity to get away from it all—from work, the phone, people, requests, and family responsibilities. It’s a time to de-stress, thing about things and be with their internal visions.

Environment and Interpersonal Connections

Whites seek comfort and familiarity in their exercise environments. Placing high value on tranquil and calm environments, Whites are easily jarred by interruptions and chaos. Whites require orderly environments for exercise, which provide the necessary calm for them to relax and receive the mental benefits of exercise as well as the physical. At a large fitness center, they are likely to find an out of the way spot to exercise, or they might join a small gym off the beaten path. Whites don’t mean to be rude, but they go to a gym to work out.

Chit chat and noise are distracting, and cell phones are a special irritant. Characteristically, Whites prefer keeping a low profile at the gym. They are turned off by “see and be seen” fitness centers. They typically don’t like to bump into people from work or other parts of their lives at the gym.

White Efficients (INTJ)
White Efficients expect trainers to have a high level of proficiency and knowledge and will challenge them with tough questions.
White Harmonies (INFJ)
White Harmonies look for friendly and supportive personal trainers. They respond best to trainers who communicate their interest and caring, and at the same time are committed to helping them reach their goals.